Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery

Expert designers of MVHR systems for renovation and new build

Introduction To MVHR

Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery is a whole house ventilation system that both supplies and extracts air in a property. The system offers a balanced, low energy ventilation solution for new dwellings and re-uses up to 95% of the heat that would have otherwise have been lost.

MVHR For New Build Homes

New build homes are by law becoming more airtight and less ‘breathable’, meaning that without additional ventilation they can get quite stuffy and stale air can be come a problem. Mechanical ventilation and heat recovery is the ideal solution to these problems. The system operates by re-using waste heat in areas such as bathrooms and kitchens then distributing it where needed. The units move air throughout the property to keep it fresh. MVHR units not only change the air, they filter it too taking out dust and other particles which may be airborne this can be beneficial to the elderly or people with respiratory issues such as asthma.

Government legislation and building requirements require that new homes are built with very low leakage rates, making them more energy-efficient. More air-tight construction methods can result in poor indoor air quality as condensation and pollutants generated from cooking, cleaning, washing and bathing remain trapped inside the home. Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, or MVHR, offers year-round, whole home ventilation that will remove condensation and pollutants, improving the indoor air quality, whilst recovering the heat that would otherwise be lost outside.

A proven low-energy and highly efficient ventilation method, MVHR is fast becoming the most common method of whole home ventilation for new build properties. MVHR systems work by combining supply and extract in one unit. Moisture-laden, stale air is extracted from ‘wet’ areas, such as kitchens and bathrooms. The heat from this stale air is recovered via a heat exchanger, and this tempered air delivered into the living areas of the home.